Madrid, March 8 (RHC)-- Women across the world are taking to the streets on Thursday, March 8th, International Women’s Day. 

In Spain, women are staging their first 24-hour nationwide strike.  Their motto: “If we stop, the world stops.” 

The historic women’s strike in Spain comes as women across the world --from Afghanistan to the Philippines to Mexico -- are marking International Women’s Day and demanding equality, justice and an end to patriarchy and violence against women 

Other protest actions are taking place in cities around the world, including New York City, where activists are calling for women to launch a 1-hour work stoppage, from 4 to 5 p.m., and then gather for a rally at Washington Square Park.